Dutch ministers commit Patriot system, 2 million euros to Ukraine
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of National Defense visited Kyiv, where they announced a substantial support package for Ukraine's fight. Among the commitments was a promise to deliver another Patriot system.
7:08 AM EDT, July 8, 2024
Newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp and new Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans visited Kyiv and met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. It was the first foreign visit by the Dutch ministers since the formation of the new government.
According to Radio Svoboda, during the conversation, there were declarations of financial support for forensic investigations to identify the murderer. The Netherlands will provide 2 million euros (approximately 2.1 million dollars) for these investigations and make its forensic laboratory available on the front lines.
The netherlands will provide the Patriot system
During the visit, significant declarations concerning military support were made. According to previous announcements, the Netherlands and its partners will deliver an additional Patriot system to Ukraine to strengthen air defense.
"Today we discussed how this initiative will be implemented and the expected timeline for delivering this system to Ukraine," said Dmytro Kuleba.
Dutch Patriots
So far, the Netherlands has been providing single launchers but is now changing its approach. It aims to play a primary role in delivering complete Patriot systems—consisting not only of launchers but also a command post and a phased array radar responsible for detecting targets.
The Patriot system is an advanced missile and air defense system developed by the American company Raytheon. It is designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and aircraft.
The system's specifications include the AN/MPQ-65 radar, which can simultaneously track up to 100 targets. Ukraine will likely receive PAC-2 GEM-T missiles with a traditional fragmentation warhead, which will provide a range of approximately 100 miles.
The system's mobility enables rapid deployment and adaptation to changing combat conditions. The Patriot has proven its effectiveness during the war in Ukraine, where it protects cities and strategic facilities and serves offensive purposes. Recently, it was confirmed that a launcher was used to shoot down a Beriev A-50 aircraft.
